Big Island DairyGoing GreenAlex Siordia

Dairy Farm Pollution

Manure can seep into groundwater or other sources of drinking water. Increases level of

nitrogen, phosphorous, pathogens, and sediments. Can cause disease

in humans, i.e, Blue Baby Syndrome.

Manure can wash into rivers and streams. Increased nitrogen

and phosphorous levels cause algae to grow in abundance.

In turn can lead to decrease in fish count.

Green House Effects

Methane

Absorbs 20 times more heat per molecule than Carbon Dioxide.

Has more impact on climate change than CO2.

CO2

Stays longer in the atmosphere, but not as harmful as Methane.

Why Go Green?

In order to reduce methane emissions and water contamination, dairies can turn alternative forms of energy production.

In order for the island of Hawaii to be sustainable as a whole, we need more sustainable practices in agriculture. Hawaii imports approximately 90% of its food.

BIG ISLAND DAIRY

• Located in 'Ō'ōkala,

Hawaii

• 2500 Acres

• 1300 Cows

• Grows corn that is used

as feed.

Big Island Dairy

Single Barn housing approximately 800 cows.

One milking dairy.

Corn is grown and used as feed.

Barn

Dairy

Costs

$500,000 in commercial fertilizer per year

$26,000 used in electricity per month

Big Island Dairy: Motivation for Sustainability

Environmentally Eliminate outside

energy dependence. New Barns will allow

more land to be utilized for things other than grazing

Less dependence on outside fertilizers, use of compost more natural route

Recycling of manure produces less waste

Economically Use of methane

digester eliminates electricity costs

Liquid fertilizer and solid compost byproducts will reduce dependence on commercial fertilizier

Overall, cost effective and environmentally friendly

Current green practices

Use of Variable Speed Drives in pumps and motors.

LED lights with motion sensors are used to reduce energy consumption.

Solar panels on barn roof reduce energy costs by $8,000.

Green Future

Planned expansion includes two new barns housing approximately 900 cows each.

New dairy building

Automatic manure scraper installed in the new barns.

Methane Digester and separator

Methane Digester

• Air-tight structure that holds manure.

• Methane gas is collected after manure decomposes, and is used to generate electricity.

• By products include excess solid, and liquid or sludge.

Digester Process

Manure is put into an air-tight structure.

After time has elapsed, and more manure is added, the manure flows to a second container while releasing methane gas which is captures at the top of the container and taken to a separate container.

After the manure passes to the second container and the methane has been extracted, the liquid and solid byproduct are separated. The liquid product can be used as fertilizer, and the solid can be used as compost.

Big Island DairyBenefits of a Methane Digester

Electricity produced from the methane would eliminate electricity costs completely.

Liquid byproducts would be used as fertilizer.

Reduces greenhouse effects produced by methane.

Solid byproducts would be used as compost.

Would reduce dependence on commercial fertilizer by 50%.

Reduces chances of potential contamination of water sources by manure.

Overall Effect• Environmentally friendly and cost effective.

• Serves as example for other dairies to pursue.

• Helps the Big Island become self sustainable

References

http://www.aaccessmaps.com/show/map/us/hi/hawaii_island

http://www.stockphotos.it/image.php?img_id=8481219&img_type=1

http://www.bbc.co.uk/science/earth/atmosphere_and_climate/greenhouse_effect

http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/engineer/facts/06-059.htm

http://bizudepraca.blogspot.com/2012/07/rio-real-policiais-da-6-cipm-frustam.html#.Ub6mzo7oCn8

www.alternative-hawaii.com/agriculture/

www.epa.gov/region9/animalwaste/problem.htmil#water

http://milk.procon.org/view.answer.php?questionID=001056